Philippians 1 · Verse 29

Philippians 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Philippians 1:29, King James Version

Philippians 1:29 in other translations

BSBFor it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
WEBBecause it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,
ASVbecause to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:
YLTbecause to you it was granted, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also on behalf of him to suffer;
DARBYbecause to you has been given, as regards Christ, not only the believing on him but the suffering for him also,
BBEBecause to you it has been given in the cause of Christ not only to have faith in him, but to undergo pain on his account:
WebsterFor to you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

What does Philippians 1:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. For--rather, a proof that this is an evident token from God of your salvation, "Because," &c. it is given--Greek, "it has been granted as a favor," or "gift of grace." Faith is the gift of God (Ep 2:8), not wrought in the soul by the will of man, but by the Holy Ghost (Joh 1:12, 13). believe on him--"To believe Him," would merely mean to believe He speaks the truth. "To believe on Him," is to believe in, and trust through, Him to obtain eternal salvation. Suffering for Christ is not only not a mark of God's anger, but a gift of His grace.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29. For unto you. Unto you as Christians. This favour is granted unto you in your present circumstances.

It is given. God concedes to you this privilege or advantage.

In the behalf of Christ. In the cause of Christ, or with a view to honour Christ. Or, these things are brought on you in consequence of your being Christians.

Not only to believe on him. It is represented here as a privilege to be permitted to believe on Christ. It is so.

(1.) It is an honour to a man to believe one who ought to be believed, to trust one who ought to be trusted, to love one who ought to be loved.

(2.) It is a privilege to believe on Christ, because it is by such faith that our sins are forgiven; that we become reconciled to God, and have the hope of heaven.

(3.) It is a privilege, because it saves the mind from the tortures and the deadly influence of unbelief --the agitation, and restlessness, and darkness, and gloom of a sceptic.

(4.) It is a privilege, because we have then a Friend to whom we may go in trial, and on whom me may roll all our burdens. If there is anything for which a Christian ought to give unfeigned thanks, it is that he has been permitted to believe on the Redeemer. Let a sincere Christian compare his peace, and joy, and hope of heaven, and support in trials, with the restlessness, uneasiness, and dread of death, in the mind of an unbeliever, and he will see abundant occasion for gratitude.

But also to suffer for his sake. Here it is represented as a privilege to suffer in the cause of the Redeemer--a declaration which may sound strange to the world. Yet this sentiment frequently occurs in the New Testament. Thus it is said of the apostles, Acts 5:41, that "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." Col 1:24: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you." 1Pet 4:13: "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." Comp. Jas 1:2, Mk 10:30. Acts 5:41. It is a privilege thus to suffer in the cause of Christ, because

(1.) we then resemble the Lord Jesus, and are united with him in trials;

(2.) because we have evidence that we are his, if trials come upon us in his cause;

(3.) because we are engaged in a good cause, and the privilege of maintaining such a cause is worth much of suffering; and

(4.) because it will be connected with a brighter crown and more exalted honour in heaven.

(e) "given in the behalf" Acts 5:41 (*) "of" "in respect to"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ - Ὑμιν εχαρισθη· To you it is graciously given; it is no small privilege that God has so far honored you as to permit you to suffer on Christ's account. It is only his most faithful servants that he thus honors. Be not therefore terrified by your enemies; they can do nothing to you which God will not turn to your eternal advantage. We learn from this that it is as great a privilege to suffer for Christ as to believe on him; and the former in certain cases (as far as the latter in all cases) becomes the means of salvation to them who are thus exercised.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 1:27-30

Those who profess the gospel of Christ, should live as becomes those who believe gospel truths, submit to gospel laws, and depend upon gospel promises. The original word "conversation" denotes the conduct of citizens who seek the credit, safety, peace, and prosperity of their city. There is that in the faith of the gospel, which is worth striving for; there is much opposition, and there is need of striving. A man…

Read the full comment on Philippians 1:27-30 →

Philippians 1:29 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτιhotiForG3754
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ἐχαρίσθηecharisthēit has been grantedG5483
τὸto<the>G3588
ὑπὲρhuperconcerningG5228
Χριστοῦ,ChristouChrist,G5547
οὐounotG3756
μόνονmonononlyG3440
τὸto<the>G3588
εἰςeisinG1519
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
πιστεύειν,pisteueinto believe,G4100
ἀλλὰallabutG235
καὶkaialsoG2532
τὸto<the>G3588
ὑπὲρhuperconcerningG5228
αὐτοῦautouHimG846
πάσχεινpascheinto sufferG3958

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philippians 1:29

  • James 1:2

    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

  • 1 Peter 4:13

    But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

  • Acts 5:41

    And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

  • Romans 5:3

    And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Matthew 5:11-12

    Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  • John 6:44-45

    No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

  • Ephesians 2:8

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

  • James 1:17-18

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

  • Colossians 2:12

    Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

  • Acts 14:27

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

  • John 1:12-13

    But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it is.
Ac 5:41; Ro 5:3; Jas 1:2; 1Pe 4:13
not.
Mt 16:17; Joh 1:12,13; 6:44,45; Ac 13:39; 14:27; Eph 2:8; Col 2:12
Jas 1:17,18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Philippians 1:28

    And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

  • Philippians 1:29

    For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

  • Philippians 1:30

    Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Read all of Philippians 1

Philippians 1:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque á vosotros es concedido por Cristo, no sólo que creáis en él, sino también que padezcáis por él,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		parce qu’à vous, il a été gratuitement donné, par rapport à Christ, non seulement de croire en lui, mais aussi de souffrir pour lui,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn euch ist es in Bezug auf Christum geschenkt worden, nicht allein an ihn zu glauben, sondern auch für ihn zu leiden,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quia vobis donatum est pro Christo, non solum ut in eum credatis, sed ut etiam pro illo patiamini: